Apparatus for conditioning bagged material



March 19, 1963' J. G. CARRIERE APPARATUS FOP. CONDITIONING BAGGED MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1961 FIGJ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY March 19, 1963 J- G. CARRIERE 3,081,956

APPARATUS FOP. commonmc BAGGED MATERIAL Filed March 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q INVENTOR- ATTORNEY- United States Patent 3,081,956 APPARATUS FOR CONDETIDNING BAGGED MATERIAL John G. Carriere, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to W. R. Grace & Co., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,734 1 Claim. (Cl. 241-283) The invention relates to apparatus for pulverizin'g bagged or sacked material such as crystal urea or the like which has become partially hardened and caked. When bagged urea or like material has been stored for any length of time it cakes in the absence of conditioning agents. Since many industrial processes cannot tolerate conditioning agents, much time and money is expended breaking up the caked granules in order to recondition the material for commercial use.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for subjecting a bag containing caked granular material to pressures directed against opposite sides of the bag when said bag is placed in the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character including two substantially upright beams, oppositely disposed in a horizontal direction with means for moving one of said beams in a substantially horizontal direction to produce a pressure against the sides of the bag placed between the beams.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character referred to in which one of said beams is pivoted to conform to the shape of the bag to distribute pressure over the entire length of the bag.

The invention is directed to a crusher device comprising a framework, spaced rollers mounted in a plane in said framework for supporting and positioning the bag, and a pair of oppositely disposed substantially upright beams mounted in said framework above and across each edge of the plane of rollers, means for holding one of said beams in a stationary position, and means for moving the other beam toward and away from the stationary beam for a predetermined distance in a substantially horizontal direction to exert a crushing pressure on the bag between the beams.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur, FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective, partly in section, of a bagged material conditioning machine embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a similar perspective view, but from the opposite side of the machine.

While any suitable type of frame can be used in which to mount the parts of this machine, I have shown. a rectangular frame 14 supported upon uprights 3 for mount-t ing the frame at the desired height above the floor or other support. If desired, the framework as a whole can be mounted on four suitable ball bearing swivel truck casters each of which is mounted on the bottom of uprights 3 so that the device as a whole is portable and can be moved to any desired location in the Warehouse or building in which it is being used.

Roller support 1 is secured to uprights 3 on one side of frame 14 and roller support 13 is secured to uprights 3 on the opposite side of frame 14 from roller support 1.

Spaced rollers 2 are mounted in a plane on roller supports 1 and 13 for easy positioning of the bag or sack of material to be processed. Any suitable means as for example, an endless conveyor, can be used for delivering the bags to the machine.

Channel beam 20 is mounted in a substantially upright position on parallel shafts 15 and 16 (cf. FIG. 2) and said shafts 15 and 16 are secured to standard 10, said standard being rigidly mounted on frame 14. The position of beam 20 is adjustable in a horizontal direction by means of slots 25 to accommodate bags of various widths.

Standard 27 is rigidly mounted upon the opposite side of frame 14 from standard 10. Driveshaft 22 passes through standard 27 at 24 with breaker channel beam 21 fixed upon one end of this shaft and any suitable prime mover fixed on the other end of this shaft.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in the drawings, the prime mover is comprised of a pneumatically or hydraulically operated double-acting cylinder 4. In the operation of this cylinder, line filter 7 removes foreign particles from the incoming stream to prevent rapid wear of the down-stream equipment. Pressure regulator 8 maintains a constant pressure to flowcontrol valve 6 to insure uniform flow and crushing action. Flow-control valve 6 governs the rate of crushing and the return speed of the piston by regulating the flow rate to one side of the cylinder. For pneumatically powered cylinders it is preferable to use an automatic lubricator with a rate adjustment 9 to provide adequate lubrication to downstream equipment.

Brackets 2.9 and 30 secure beam 21 to shaft 22 by means of pin 11. Pin 11 is journaled in shaft 22 and allows beam 21 to pivot to conform to the shape of the bag in order to distribute pressure over the entire length of the bag.

A pair of parallel adjustment rods 12 and 23, mounted on standard 27, position beam 21 when it returns to its starting position for accurate crushing of the next bag.

In the operation of the machine the bagged material is placed on rollers 2 between beams 20 and 21. Beam 20 remains stationary throughout the crushing operation. 'Beam 21 is moved forward a predetermined distance to apply crushing action to the side of the bag, as shown in FIGURE 2, said beam 21 pivoting to conform to the shape of the bag. The distance traveled by beam 21 is adjustable, as is the position of beam 20, so that the crushing action will be sufficient to recondition the caked material in the particular bag but not sufficient to cause the bag to burst.

Beam 21 is returned to its starting position where it is correctly positioned by adjustment rods 12 and 23 for accurate crushing of the next bag.

I claim:

A machine for conditioning caked bagged material having a frame formed from vertical and horizontal frame members, a plurality of rollers extending transversely between the horizontal members and forming a support for a bag, standards extending outwardly from each horizontal frame member, a movable channel beam normally positioned above and adjacent each side of the frame supported from the standard and having its channel face inwardly directed, means to fix one of said beams in selected positions transverse to said roller support, piston operated fluid power means connected to the second beam to cause the beam to advance and retract across the roller support to crush a bag of caked material placed between the beams and to release the crushed bag, the fluid power means exerting its force on the beam. at a single pivot point to allow the beam to swing horizontally and adapt its position to the shape of a caked bag, and beam angle restoring means operative at the end of the reverse stroke of the piston to restore the angle of the beam to its normal position and to receive a succeeding bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,165 Sheahan July 16, 1940 2,415,766 Shapiro Feb. 11, 1947 2,707,503 Johnson et a1 May 3, 1955 2,907,530 Pyles Oct. 6 1959 

